Method and apparatus for providing additive fluids to refrigerant circuit

ABSTRACT

A refrigerant additive supply device can include an outer rigid container, an inner flexible bag positioned in the outer rigid container and defining a space therebetween where the inner flexible bag contains an additive without a refrigerant, a valve in fluid communication with the inner flexible bag, an actuator operably coupled to the valve, and a propellant sealed within the space, where the inner flexible bag has a device pressure that allows flow of the additive into a refrigerant circuit when the actuator is depressed. Other embodiments are disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/615,417, filed Nov. 10, 2009, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/121,088, filed Dec. 9, 2008, the entirety of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to refrigerant systems and in particular providing additives to refrigerant circuits.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Refrigerant systems utilize circuits that circulate refrigerant in order to facilitate heat transfer and remove heat from a target area. Various components can be coupled to the refrigerant circuit depending on the type of system being utilized, such as a compressor of an automobile's air conditioning system.

Refrigeration systems often utilize additive fluids with the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit to maintain the performance of the system at a satisfactory level. Examples of additive fluids placed in refrigerant circuits include compressor lubricant, Ultraviolet or other leak detection dye, leak stop material, performance enhancers, acid neutralizers, drying agents, and other A/C circuit fluids. These additive fluids can be introduced into the system by pre-mixing the additive fluid with the refrigerant fluid and expelling the mixture into the circuit and by utilizing a mechanical piston to inject the additive fluid into the circuit.

SUMMARY

In one exemplary embodiment, a method of providing additive to a refrigerant circuit is provided. The method can include connecting a supply device to the refrigerant circuit at a portion of the refrigerant circuit where a circuit pressure is less than a device pressure where the supply device has an outer container with an inner bag therein and where the inner bag contains the additive; and actuating a valve of the supply device to allow flow of the additive into the refrigerant circuit, where the additive is not pre-mixed with refrigerant.

In another exemplary embodiment, a refrigerant additive supply device is provided that can include an outer rigid container; an inner flexible bag positioned in the outer rigid container and defining a space therebetween where the inner flexible bag contains an additive without a refrigerant; a valve in communication with the inner flexible bag; an actuator operably coupled to the valve; and a propellant sealed within the space, where the inner flexible bag has a device pressure that allows flow of the additive fluid into a refrigerant circuit when the actuator is depressed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A fuller understanding of the present invention and the features and benefits thereof will be accomplished upon review of the following detailed description together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a device according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention for providing additive fluid to a refrigeration circuit;

FIG. 2 shows a process according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention for manufacturing the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a method according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention for providing additive fluid to a refrigeration circuit using the device of FIG. 1;

FIG 4 shows a device comprising a quick fitting comprising a valve to prevent backflow of refrigerant according to various embodiments; and

FIG 5 shows a refrigerant supply device wherein a valve to prevent backflow of refrigerant is incorporated in a valve in fluid communication with an inner flexible bag and operatively coupled to an actuator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The exemplary embodiments described herein provide a method and apparatus for introducing or otherwise adding additive fluids to a refrigerant circuit, such as in an A/C system of an automobile. The additive fluids can be of various types, including compressor lubricant (such as PAG, POE, PAO, mineral oil and so forth), U/V or other leak detection dye, leak stop, A/C system performance enhancer or other A/C circuit fluid, and the exemplary embodiments are not intended to be limited to the type of additive fluid. The exemplary embodiments describe the apparatus and method with respect to an A/C system of an automobile but the present disclosure contemplates use of the exemplary embodiments with other types of refrigerant circuits. The exemplary embodiments can introduce the additive fluid to the refrigeration circuit without the use of refrigerant or an expensive oil injection tool. The exemplary embodiments are environmentally friendly, as they do not utilize refrigerant, and they facilitate the transfer of additive fluids to the refrigerant circuit.

Referring to FIG. 1, a supply device 10 can include a container or can 6 having a valve 1, a bag or inner container 2 with the additive 3 therein, a propellant 4 and an actuator 5. In one embodiment, the additive 3 can be a fluid, although it can also be a flowable powder, a mixture of a power and a fluid, etc. In one embodiment, the propellant 4 can be nitrogen, although the use of air or other gas is contemplated by the present disclosure. Various sizes and shapes for the supply device 10 and its components can be utilized.

In one embodiment, the supply device 10 can include a supply canister or aerosol with a Bag-On-Valve system within which may have an aerosol valve with a welded bag. The Bag-On-Valve system can have compressed air or other suitable gas in the supply canister or aerosol can on the outside of the bag which acts as a propellant on the circuit additive fluid which is inside the bag.

Referring additionally to FIG. 2, one exemplary process for filling the supply device 10 is shown. For example, the valve 1 can be preassembled with the bag 2 and then positioned in the can 6. As another example, the valve 1 can be engaged with a rim 9 or other structure of the can 6, such as through a crimping process. An under-the-cup gassing process can be utilized to increase the pressure in the can to a desired amount, such as 100 psi, which can be utilized with a pressure control step. Example pressures that may be employed are in the range of 25-140 psi, with a preferred range of 65-110 psi. The bag 2 can then be filled with the additive 3, such as through the valve 1 or other access port. The filling step can be performed in a number of different ways, including through weighting. In one embodiment, the can 6 can be sealed to atmosphere once the crimping process and under-the-cup steps occur so that there is no venting of the space between the bag 2 and the can 6. In another embodiment, the bag 2 can be a pleated or other reconfigurable container (such as an accordion-shaped container) that has an inner volume that can be expanded through reconfiguration of the shape of the bag rather than stretching of the bag walls when the additive fluid is filled therein. In another embodiment, the propellant can be further pressurized by the filling of the bag 2 with the additive 3. The particular pressure can vary. For example, the pressure can be greater than the operating refrigerant circuit pressure (such as 30-60 psi) to facilitate introduction of the additive 3 into the refrigerant circuit.

The bag 2 can be made from various materials which allow the pressure from the propellant (such as air) in the can 6 to translate into a pressure in the bag. In one embodiment, the bag 2 is made from aluminized plastic. The can 6 can also be made from various materials, including rigid plastic and metals, such as aluminum.

Referring additionally to FIG. 3, in one embodiment, additive fluids from the supply device 10 can be placed into the refrigerant circuit, such as an automotive air conditioning system, by (1) connecting the supply device 10 to the refrigerant circuit after it has been emptied, (2) connecting the supply device to the refrigerant circuit after it has been emptied and vacuum pressure created therein, (3) connecting the supply device to a refrigerant circuit suction line during system operation to draw the contents of the supply device into the refrigerant circuit, and/or (4) connecting the supply device to the refrigerant circuit and allowing a higher pressure in the supply device to force the additive fluid into the circuit.

In one embodiment, additive fluids from the supply device 10 can be introduced to an air conditioning system with a refrigerant material transfer device which can be connectable to the air conditioning system. The device 30 can be flexible and of a size and shape that allows for connection between the supply device 10 and the refrigerant circuit, such as a suction port thereof. The device 30 can have an actuator 40 (which may be pressed, squeezed, turned and so forth to actuate), a fluid conveying tube 50 and a quick connect fitting 60 for attachment to an automotive or other connector of the A/C system. The quick connect fitting 60 can have a one piece plastic body 70 and a plastic locking sleeve 65 mounted on the body for attaching and detaching the quick connect fitting to the air conditioning connector. The present disclosure describes the fitting 60 being made of plastic, but other materials, including metal, are also contemplated. The plastic body 70 can have locking tabs integrally formed therewith for engaging the air conditioning connector. The locking tabs can be moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The locking sleeve 65 can retain the locking tab in the locked position. The quick connect fitting 60 can also have cooperating prongs to allow assembly of its components, restrain disassembly, and/or provide frictional forces during relative movement of the sleeve and body. In one embodiment, referring to FIG. 4 the quick connect fitting 60 can include a backflow valve 90 to prevent backflow 92 of any refrigerant into the supply device. In another embodiment, the backflow valve 90 can be positioned elsewhere with respect to the supply device, such as incorporated into valve 1, as illustrated in FIG. 5, to prevent backflow 92.

In another embodiment, a charging hose assembly can be provided that includes a quick disconnect fitting (or another type of connection fitting such as a threaded fitting) interconnected by a length of fluid conveying tube to an actuator which may be pressed or squeezed or turned to release additive fluids from the canister into the air conditioning circuit.

In another embodiment, another charging hose assembly can be provided that includes a quick disconnect fitting (or another type of connection fitting such as a threaded fitting) interconnected by a length of fluid conveying tube to a meter or gauge, of appropriate type to measure the amount of refrigerant circuit additive fluids being added to the system, connected to an actuator which may be pressed or squeezed or turned to release additive fluids from the canister into the air conditioning circuit.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the invention is not so limited. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as described in the claims. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A refrigerant additive supply device comprising: an outer rigid container having a gas propellant sealed therein; an inner flexible bag positioned in the outer rigid container, the inner flexible bag containing a refrigerant system additive without a refrigerant and sealed from the gas propellant; a fluid path configured to fluidically couple the inner flexible bag to a refrigerant circuit containing refrigerant; a fluid conveying tube defining at least part of the fluid path; a fitting coupled to the fluid conveying tube and structured to connect to a refrigerant circuit connector, the fitting comprising a locking sleeve and a locking tab, wherein the locking sleeve is configured to retain the locking tab in a locked position; and a valve positioned within the fluid path and in fluid communication with the inner flexible bag, the valve structured to prevent backflow of fluid such that refrigerant system additive flows therethrough away from the inner flexible bag while backflow of fluid toward the inner flexible bag is substantially prevented; wherein the gas propellant is at a positive and above ambient pressure configured to cause the flow of the refrigerant system additive through the fluid path valve and into the refrigerant circuit at a positive and above ambient pressure of at least 30 psi, when an actuator is actuated such that the refrigerant system additive is not pre-mixed with refrigerant prior to the refrigerant system additive exiting the inner flexible bag.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the fitting is selected from the group consisting of a quick-connect fitting and a threaded fitting.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the refrigerant system additive comprises at least one of fluid and powder.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the refrigerant system additive comprises at least one of compressor lubricant, leak detection dye, leak stop material, and refrigerant performance enhancer.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the refrigerant system additive comprises at least one of fluid and powder.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the refrigerant system additive comprises at least one of compressor lubricant, leak detection dye, leak stop material, and refrigerant performance enhancer.
 7. A refrigerant additive supply device comprising: an outer rigid container comprising a single opening to an exterior of the outer rigid container; an inner flexible bag positioned in the outer rigid container and defining a space therebetween, the inner flexible bag containing a refrigerant system additive without a refrigerant; a valve in fluid communication with the inner flexible bag and engaged with a rim of the outer rigid container; an actuator operably coupled to the valve, the actuator and valve being positioned within the single opening to the exterior of the outer rigid container and forming an airtight connection with the rim of the outer rigid container; a fluid conveying tube coupled to the actuator and in fluid communication with the inner flexible bag; a fitting coupled to the fluid conveying tube and configured to connect to a refrigerant circuit connector, the fitting comprising a locking sleeve and a locking tab, wherein the locking sleeve is configured to retain the locking tab in a locked position; and a pressurized gas propellant sealed within the space between the inner flexible bag and the outer rigid container by the airtight connection such that a pressure within the space between the inner flexible bag and the outer rigid container is a positive and above ambient pressure, wherein the actuator is operable to open the valve during use such that pressure exerted on the inner flexible bag by the pressurized gas propellant between the inner flexible bag and the outer rigid container causes a flow of the refrigerant system additive through the valve and fluid conveying tube into a connected refrigerant circuit that is at a positive and above ambient pressure of at least 30 psi, but less than the pressure of the gas propellant, without any pre-existing refrigerant within the refrigerant circuit entering the inner flexible bag of the refrigerant additive supply device, and wherein, when open, the valve is structured to prevent backflow of fluid into the inner flexible bag.
 8. The device of claim 7, wherein the space between the inner flexible bag and the outer rigid container is pressurized to a positive pressure above ambient pressure using an under-the-cup gassing process.
 9. The device of claim 7, wherein the fitting is a quick-connect fitting.
 10. The device of claim 7, wherein the fitting is a threaded fitting.
 11. The device of claim 7, wherein the refrigerant system additive comprises at least one of fluid and powder.
 12. The device of claim 7, wherein the refrigerant system additive comprises at least one of compressor lubricant, leak detection dye, leak stop material, and refrigerant performance enhancer.
 13. A refrigerant additive supply device comprising: an outer container configured to contain a supply of gas propellant sealed within the outer container; an inner container positioned in the outer container, the inner container comprising a flexible material defining an inner volume configured to contain a refrigerant system additive without a refrigerant and sealed from the supply of gas propellant; a fluid path fluidically coupled with the inner volume, the fluid path configured to include a valve positioned therein, wherein the fluid path comprises a fluid conveying tube and a fitting for connection to a refrigerant circuit connector, wherein the fitting comprises a locking sleeve and a locking tab, and wherein the locking sleeve is configured to retain the locking tab in a locked position; and an actuator operatively coupled to the valve; wherein the gas propellant is pressurized to a positive and above ambient pressure such that, when the actuator is actuated, the pressure is configured to translate to the inner volume to cause flow of the refrigerant system additive through the valve toward a refrigerant circuit connected to the fitting and that contains refrigerant at a positive and above ambient pressure of at least 30 psi and wherein the valve is structured to substantially prevent backflow of refrigerant therethrough toward the inner volume when the actuator is actuated.
 14. The refrigerant additive supply device of claim 13, wherein the inner container comprises a reconfigurable shape.
 15. The refrigerant additive supply device of claim 14, wherein the inner container comprises a flexible bag having the reconfigurable shape.
 16. The refrigerant additive supply device of claim 13, wherein the valve is positioned to substantially prevent pre-mixing of the refrigerant system additive with refrigerant prior to the refrigerant system additive entering the refrigerant circuit.
 17. A refrigerant additive supply device comprising: an outer container configured to contain a supply of gas propellant pressurized above ambient pressure and sealed within the outer container; an inner container positioned in the outer container, the inner container defining an inner volume containing a refrigerant system additive without a refrigerant and sealed from the supply of gas propellant; a fluid path configured to fluidically couple the inner volume to a refrigerant circuit containing refrigerant at a positive and above ambient pressure of at least 30 psi, wherein the fluid path comprises a fluid conveying tube and a fitting for connection to a connector of the refrigerant circuit, wherein the fitting comprises a locking sleeve and a locking tab, and wherein the locking sleeve is configured to retain the locking tab in a locked position; and an arrangement of one or more valves positioned within the fluid path, the arrangement of one or more valves comprising an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein, in the closed configuration, fluid flow through the arrangement of one or more valves is prevented, and wherein, in the open configuration, fluid flow through the arrangement of one or more valves is allowed away from the inner volume but backflow toward the inner volume is substantially prevented; wherein the inner container comprises a flexible material allowing pressure from pressurized gas propellant to translate to the inner volume to cause a flow of the refrigerant system additive away from the inner volume through the arrangement of one or more valves when the arrangement of one or more valves is in the open configuration.
 18. The refrigerant additive supply device of claim 17, wherein the arrangement of one or more valves comprises a first valve operatively couplable to an actuator configured to open the first valve to allow fluid to flow therethrough, and a second valve structured to prevent backflow of fluid such that fluid may flow therethrough away from the internal volume but is prevented from flowing therethrough toward the internal volume.
 19. The refrigerant additive supply device of claim 18, wherein, when the fluid path couples the inner volume to the refrigerant circuit, the second valve is positioned to substantially prevent pre-mixing of the refrigerant system additive with refrigerant prior to the refrigerant system additive entering the refrigerant circuit.
 20. A refrigerant additive supply device comprising: an outer container configured to contain a supply of gas propellant pressurized above ambient pressure and sealed within the outer container; and an inner container defining an inner volume and positioned in the outer container, the inner volume configured to be sealed from the supply of gas propellant and contain a refrigerant system additive without a refrigerant, wherein the inner volume is configured to fluidically couple to a refrigerant circuit containing a refrigerant at a positive and above ambient pressure of at least 30 psi, via a valved fluid path, wherein the valved fluid path is structured to be operable to allow fluid flow away from the inner volume while substantially preventing backflow of fluid toward the inner volume, and wherein the inner container comprises a flexible material allowing pressure from pressurized gas propellant to translate to the inner volume to cause a flow of the refrigerant system additive through the valved fluid path away from the inner volume; the valved fluid path comprises a fluid conveying tube, a fitting for connection to a connector of the refrigerant circuit, and an actuator operable to open the valved fluid path to allow the flow of the refrigerant system additive therethrough away from the inner volume, wherein the fitting comprising a locking sleeve and a locking tab, and wherein the locking sleeve is configured to retain the locking tab in a locked position. 